Export Of Meat To Canada Suspended

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32350, 16 July 1970, Page 24

Export Of Meat To Canada Suspended

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 15. All New Zealand exports of beef, mutton, and veal to Canada will be temporarily suspended as from today, pending negotiations with Canadian authorities. The Acting Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Shelton) said this morning that the suspension was decided on after consultation with the Meat Board.

Canada requested the suspension after a United States decision to stop the reimportation from Canada of meat imported from New Zealand, Australia, and other suppliers.

New Zealand’s action in voluntarily suspending meat shipments is similar to action taken by Australia today, but Mr Shelton said New Zealand had imposed three conditions on the suspension. These are that Canada will accept meat already en route, that negotiations take place on a date for resumption of shipments, and that New Zealand lamb is not included in the suspension. Mr Shelton said he did not know how long the suspension would last. He was not prepared to comment, on the possible long-term affects for New Zealand of the United States decision.

A senior spokesman for the Industries and Commerce Department said New Zealand had asked Canada for talks on the resumption of the trade to start as soon as possible. New Zealand would like to see the talks start almost immediately. New Zealand had suspended shipments to Canada to avoid a major disruption of the Canadian meat market.

At present, a greater amount of meat than Canada could consume was going into the country. “Against this, New Zealand can now send more meat to the United States than before, and Canada can send more meat of Canadian origin across the border,” the spokesman said. The value of New Zealand beef and veal exports to Canada last calendar year was $28.5m. Exports were running in excess of that figure this year . ,

The New Zealand Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) is due in Vancouver tomorrow on his way home from talks in Britain and Europe. It is understood New Zea-

land’s representatives there will brief him on the situation, but it is most unlikely that he will have any immediate negotiations with Canadian authorities.